MIDDLEBURG, Va. –Four riders from the Foxcroft School in Middleburg have qualified for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zone 3 Finals, but the team, which finished fourth, just missed qualifying.

 Kayla Lee and Emma Pell at the IEA Regionals Kayla Lee, a junior at Foxcroft from Austin, Texas, won both Individual Varsity Open classes at the IEA Zone 3, Region 3/4 Finals in Fredericksburg, Va, on Feb. 24-25 to lead the group of four Foxcroft riders who qualified for the Zone 3 Finals.

Also qualifying for the Zone finals, which will be held March 17-18 at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C.,, were freshman Emma Pell of Winchester, Va., and sophomores Marina Vanoff of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Isabel Wood of Virginia Beach, Va.

The IEA, which has more than 13,500 members in 42 states, offers competitions for middle and high school equestrians in both Hunt Seat and Western disciplines.

The format is similar to that used by Intercollegiate Horse Show Association for college riders, with individuals “catch riding” unfamiliar horses drawn by lot.

 

LEE, WHO also placed second on the flat and fifth over fences for Foxcroft in the team competition, will contend in both Varsity Open individual classes at the Zone Finals.

Pell will also compete in the Varsity Open division over fences after finishing second at Regionals.

Foxcroft riders at IEA Regionals Vanoff was second on the flat in the JV Novice division, and Wood placed third in the JV Walk/Trot/Canter to qualify.

The top riders in each class at the Zone Finals will advance to the IEA National Championships in Syracuse, N.Y., in April.

Riding for Team Foxcroft, junior Grace Chen won the JV Walk/Trot/Canter and Vanoff placed third in the JV Novice flat class.

Together with Lee’s outstanding performance, that gave Foxcroft 18 points.

Patuxent Run Stables won the team title with 24 points, followed by Meadowbrook Stables with 23 points and TSF Equestrian with 22.

Founded in 1914, Foxcroft School is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12 with a mission of helping every girl explore her unique voice and develop the skills, confidence, and courage to share it with the world.

Its 2017-18 student body includes 157 girls from 14 countries, 18 states, and the District of Columbia.

More than 40 percent of the students receive need-based financial aid, and 11 percent receive merit scholarships.

Some 24 percent are international students, and 22 percent are students of color.

The School offers 76 courses, including 16 AP classes, and a STEM program that inspires girls to pursue disciplines underrepresented by women.

Foxcroft fields athletic teams in 10 sports, including the two-time state lacrosse champions and a nationally known riding program.,